SHP says man leads trooper on chase, then crashes

A Lexington man led a trooper with the N.C. Highway Patrol on a brief chase Thursday night before crashing into a tree and being charged with driving while impaired, officials said Friday.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

A Lexington man led a trooper with the N.C. Highway Patrol on a brief chase Thursday night before crashing into a tree and being charged with driving while impaired, officials said Friday.Troopers charged Shannon Dion Parks, 32, of 38 Jamaica Drive, with driving while impaired, no operator's license, reckless driving to endanger and felony flee/elude arrest with motor vehicle. He was placed in the Davidson County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond.The accident was reported at 8:01 p.m. Parks, who is accused of leading Trooper J.W. Boozer on a chase, crashed a 2004 Dodge passenger vehicle on Tussey Road, 2.3 miles west of Lexington.Pam Kearns, a spokeswoman with the SHP in Lexington, said Parks was traveling north on Tussey Road. He ran off the road to the right, and the vehicle — owned by his girlfriend — struck an embankment. The Dodge continued to travel through a cornfield and struck a tree. Prior to the crash, Parks' original traveling speed was 100 miles per hour in a 50-mph zone, Kearns said.Boozer stated in a citation that Parks fled from him at a very high rate of speed, the motorist went left of center and had total disregard for anyone. Parks was treated and released from Wake Forest Baptist Health — Lexington Medical Center. It was unclear Friday morning what type of impairing substance troopers are alleging was in Parks' body at the time of the crash.SHP Sgt. Stephen Pace described the incident as being a short chase. He said the vehicle involved in the chase belonged to Parks' girlfriend. No damage occurred to Boozer's patrol vehicle, the sergeant confirmed.Parks is scheduled to appear Oct. 29 in Lexington District Court.Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.

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